A notorious motorcycle gang performed a stirring haka outside a mosque in New Zealand on Friday in a moving display of solidarity after the Christchurch terror attack.
Members of the Mongrel Mob, one of the country’s largest gangs with more than 1,000 associates, vowed to protect their ‘Muslim brothers and sisters’ praying at the Jamia Masjid mosque in Hamilton on the North Island.
Wearing their trademark black and red leather waistcoats which feature the words Mongrel Mob alongside the gang’s British Bulldog insignia, members performed their haka before standing guard outside the mosque.
Their performance was met with a round of applause and cheering from members of the Muslim community who watched before heading inside to pray.
Poignant pictures from the scene showed local Muslim Association president Dr Asad Mohsi touching noses with gang members in a traditional Maori greeting called the Hongi after he welcomed their support.
The display came after local Mongrel Mob president Sonny Fatu vowed on Wednesday to help make Muslims feel safe while they prayed.
‘We will support and assist our Muslim brothers and sisters for however long they need us,’ said Fatu.
On guard: A notorious motorcycle gang (pictured performing a haka at the Jamia Masjid mosque in Hamilton on the North Island) stood guard outside the mosque on Friday in a moving display of solidarity after the Christchurch terror attack
Passion: Members of the Mongrel Mob, one of the country’s largest gangs with more than 1,000 associates, also performed a haka outside the Jamia Masjid mosque in Hamilton on the North Island. Pictured: A gang member preforming a haka
Solidarity: Waikato Muslim Association president Dr Asad Mohsi (right) touches noses in a traditional ‘Hongi’ greeting with a gang member (left). The gang’s performance was met with a round of applause and cheering from members of the Muslim community who watched before heading inside to pray
Members of a New Zealand gang called the Mongrel Mob stand guard outside Jamia Masjid mosque in Hamilton on the North Island on Friday. The display came after the local Mongrel Mob president, Sonny Fatu, vowed on Wednesday to help make Muslims feel safe while they prayed
The Mongrel Mob is an organised street gang based in New Zealand that has a network of more than thirty chapters throughout the country. Pictured: Members perform a haka on Friday
The gang’s main rival is the Black Power gang and there have been several very public and violent clashes between the two gangs over the years. Pictured: Gang members in Hamilton on Friday
The gang began with a group of mainly European youths from Wellington and Hawke’s Bay in the 1960s. Pictured: Gang members perform a haka
Legend within the gang holds that the name originated from the comments of a judge in the Hastings District Court, who referred to a group of men before him as ‘mongrels’. Pictured: Gang members on Friday
Many wore their trademark black and red leather waistcoats which feature the words Mongrel Mob alongside the gang’s insignia, a British Bulldog. Pictured: A gang member poses for photos
By the late 1960s loose groups of rebellious young men in Wellington and Hawke’s Bay were calling themselves Mongrels. By 1966 they were wearing patches bearing the name ‘Mongrel Mob’. Pictured: A gang member on Friday
Mongrel Mob president Sonny Fatu told Stuff: ‘We were contacted by a representative who said some of our Muslim brothers and sisters have fears for Friday during their prayer, and the question was posed whether we could be apart of the safety net for them to allow them to pray in peace without fear.’
Waikato Muslim Association president Dr Asad Mohsin said he appreciated the support the Muslim community has received from ‘different sections of society, different interests and dispositions.’
He said he did not view the mob as ‘gang members.’
‘We value them as humans and we appreciate that they value us too,’ he said.
Mohsin, however, urged that it is important for the community to show they will not bow down to terror and invited the gang to pray inside the mosque as opposed to standing guard outside.
‘There are no fears, and we are not scared. They don’t have to stand outside the mosque, they can come inside, right behind where the sermon is given,’ he told the New Zealand Herald.
Fatu promised the Mongrels’ gesture will be a ‘peaceful’ one and the gang would not be armed.
‘We are peacefully securing the inner gated perimeter, with other community members, to allow them to feel at ease,’ he added.
Solidarity: Waikato Mongrel Mob president Sonny Fatu (pictured left) has offered to protect Jamia Masjid Mosque in Hamilton, in New Zealand’s North Island
Biker gangs across New Zealand have come out to show their support in the wake of the Christchurch massacre. Members of the Mongrel Mob (pictured on Saturday) descended at Hagley College, in Christchurch the day after the attack
The Mongrel Mob is an organised street gang in New Zealand based across the country. Members (pictured on Saturday) offered to protect Muslim mosques during Friday prayer
This week members of the Black Power, Mongrel Mob (pictured on Saturday), Hells Angels, and King Cobras have taken part in tributes to honour the 50 victims of New Zealand’s first ever terror attack
‘Our differences are the glue that hold us so tightly together. We must now focus not on where we have been, but where we are going. Let us repair the holes in our waka and restrategise the rest of our journey.’
This week members of the Black Power, Mongrel Mob, Hells Angels, and King Cobras have taken part in tributes to honour the 50 victims of New Zealand’s first ever terror attack.
On Sunday, ten members of Black Power, which was first formed in 1970, gathered near the police cordon at Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch to perform a moving haka.
On Sunday, the country’s largest Māori gangs performed a haka near the police cordon at Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch. The poignant moment saw around 10 members of Black Power perform (pictured)
New Zealand falls silent in tribute to the 50 people killed in the Christchurch massacre – as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gathers with thousands outside Al Noor mosque to join Muslim prayers
By Charlie Moore for Daily Mail Australia
New Zealand fell silent on Friday afternoon during a poignant memorial service exactly a week after the Christchurch terror attack.
Hundreds of Muslims and non-Muslims gathered in the city’s Hagley Park opposite the Al Noor mosque where worshipers were gunned down.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, wearing a black and gold headscarf in solidarity with the Islamic faith, briefly addressed the emotional gathering.
‘New Zealand mourns with you. We are one,’ she said.
The call to prayer was heard at 1.30pm local time (11.30am AEDT) and followed by two minutes of silence.
Then Imam Gamal Fouda gave a moving speech in which he said the 50 victims were martyrs and their blood has ‘watered the seeds of hope’.
Zaed Moustafa – who was injured and lost his father and brother in the mosque attacks – was among those paying respects as well as Australian boxer and Muslim convert Anthony Mundine.
‘We are one’: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, wearing a black and gold headscarf in solidarity with the Islamic faith, briefly addressed the emotional gathering
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (in a black headscarf) and her entourage arrive before Friday prayers at Hagley Park outside Al-Noor mosque
Zaed Moustafa (in the wheelchair), the son of Hussein Mohamed Khalil Moustafa, a victim of the mosque attacks, attends Friday prayers at Hagley Park outside Al-Noor mosque in Christchurch
Zaid Mustafa, left, son and brother of victims from last week’s mosque shootings is welcomed to Friday prayers
The speaker said: ‘Today, from the same place, I look out and I see the love and compassion in the eyes of thousands of fellow New Zealanders and human beings’
A Muslim man cries during Friday prayers at Hagley Park in Christchurch, New Zealand as PM Jacinda Ardern paid tribute
‘We appreciate the support that the people of New Zealand have given to us at this time, and the opportunity to do this,’ community leader and head of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand, Mustafa Farouk, said
A Muslim man prays during Friday prayers at Hagley Park. He closes his eyes and holds out his palms during the prayer
In his speech, Imam Gamal Fouda said: ‘Last week I saw hatred and rage in the eyes of the terrorist who killed 50 and wounded 42 and broke the hearts of millions.
‘Today, from the same place, I look out and I see the love and compassion in the eyes of thousands of fellow New Zealanders and human beings.
Addressing victims’ families, he said: ‘Your loved ones did not die in vain. Their blood has watered the seeds of hope.
‘Through them, the world will see the beauty of Islam and the beauty of our unity.’
The cleric thanked the New Zealand government, the emergency services and neighbours ‘who opened their doors to save us from the killer.’
‘Thank you New Zealand for teaching the world what it means to love and care,’ he said.
The speaker then called on governments around the world to end hate speech and the politics of hate.
He said the rise of white supremacism was a ‘global threat to mankind’ and showed that ‘terrorism has no race, no colour, no religion.’ He called for an end to Islamophobia and the ‘irrational fear of Muslims.’
Members of the public look on during a gathering for congregational Friday prayers and two minutes of silence for victims of the mosque massacre
Hundreds of Muslims prayed together in their weekly Friday prayers in the park to pay tribute to the victims of the terror attack
Ms Ardern arrives before Friday prayers at Hagley Park. She briefly addressed the gathering, saying: ‘New Zealand mourns with you, we are one’
Then there was a prayer before the cleric leading the service gave a moving speech in which he said the 50 victims were martyrs and their blood has ‘watered the seeds of hope’. Pictured: People at the gathering
Addressing victims’ families, the speaker said: ‘Your loved ones did not die in vain. Their blood has watered the seeds of hope.’
The speaker said the rise of white supremacism was a ‘global threat to mankind’ and showed that ‘terrorism has no race, no colour, no religion.’ He called for an end to Islamophobia and the ‘irrational fear of Muslims.’ Pictured: A man sobs
In his speech, Imam Gamal Fouda said: ‘Last week I saw hatred and rage in the eyes of the terrorist who killed 50 and wounded 42 and broke the hearts of millions.’ Pictured: PM Ms Ardern (centre) leaves the service
Armed police officers secure the perimeter before Friday prayers at Hagley Park outside Al-Noor mosque in Christchurch
People attend Friday prayers at Hagley Park outside Al-Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand for a moving service
Women wearing headscarves in tribute to the victims of the mosque attacks are seen before Friday prayers at Hagley Park
Moving: Worshippers pray a week after fifty Muslims were killed when a gunman opened fire on two mosques last Friday